Surf spot

Tamarindo

Forecast conditions and map view for Tamarindo in Nicaragua. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Nicaragua
Coordinates: 11.2362, -85.8654

Metric
Metric	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6
Wave direction	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	WSW	WSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW
Wave period (s)	10.6	10.6	10.4	10.4	10.4	10.3	10.2	10	9.6	9.6	9.6	9.7	9.9	9.8	8.8	9.3	9.6	9.1	9.2	9	8.9	9.7	8.4	9.1	12.4	12.4	13.2	13.9	13.9	13.8	13.7	13.4	13.2	13	12.9	12.7	12.6	12.4	12.1	12.1	11.8	11.5	11.4	11.3	11.1	11	10.9	10.7	10.7	10.7	10.7	10.7	10.4	10.3	10.3	10.2
Wave energy (kJ)	151	144	132	126	126	116	107	104	100	96	90	81	80	79	64	66	75	59	46	41	34	33	39	44	96	104	117	149	168	176	183	188	201	206	202	206	202	207	205	205	195	178	175	172	158	155	145	132	131	118	112	111	101	92	92	85
Wind speed (km/h)	28.7	25.4	24.5	31.1	29.9	30.6	30.8	29.6	28.7	29	29.3	36.9	37.5	36	34.2	33.2	30.2	28	28.3	32.5	32	32	32.2	30.6	28.6	23.3	27.8	34.1	35.1	29.7	26.4	25.9	23.6	23.5	27.8	35	30	30.3	29.5	27.5	25.3	24.2	21.7	29	27.1	21.9	20.6	7.3	10.3	15.6	15	22.9	16.5	11.2	12.7	6.8
Wind direction	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross	ECross	ENECross	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	NECross-off	ENEBlown out	ENEBlown out	EBlown out	ECross	ECross	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ECross	ENECross	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	NECross-off	ENECross-off	ENEBlown out	ENECross-off	ENECross	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	NECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross	ECross	ECross	ECross	ENECross	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross	SECross-on	ECross-on	ENECross-off	NECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross-off	ENECross	ECross	SWCross-on	SOnshore

Tamarindo is a well-known surf beach in Nicaragua, famous for its consistent waves, warm tropical water, and relaxed beach-town vibe. It’s a good destination for surfers looking for a mix of fun beach breaks and point-style waves, depending on the exact spot and swell conditions.

Surf style

Wave type: mostly beach break with some nearby reef/point options in the area
Best for: beginner to intermediate surfers, though bigger swells can create challenging conditions for advanced riders
Consistency: generally reliable, especially during the main swell seasons

Conditions

Water temperature: warm year-round, so a wetsuit is usually not needed
Wind: often best early in the morning before the trade winds pick up
Crowds: can get busy, but is usually less crowded than more famous surf hubs in Central America

Best time to surf

Dry season / offshore conditions: often November to April
Prime swell season: usually May to October, when larger Pacific swells arrive

What it’s like

Tamarindo has a laid-back, surf-town atmosphere with surf camps, rentals, and lessons readily available. It’s a popular place for travelers who want easy access to waves, good sunsets, and a social scene.